RIGA - Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis expressed hope that agreements with Russia on economic cooperation and launching an intergovernmental task force would be ready to sign by fall.
In an interview with public radio, Kalvitis said that, according to information available to him, Russia was to consider both draft documents in September. "I think that these agreements will be ready to sign in September-October, and if we manage to ink them, this will be a result of dialogue," the prime minister said.
He highlighted additional documents waiting to be signed, such as agreements on social protection, lifting double-taxation, and exchange of diplomatic properties. "All these accords will create a second phase, that is if we succeed in making the first step," Kalvitis said.
However, Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny said he doubted the agreement would be signed so soon. At the soonest, the document might be inked after Latvia's parliamentary elections, he said.
